Blood-thirsty, hysterical demands for revenge will not bring her back, do no credit to the tragic victim nor to her mourning family.

Sir, – The unnecessary death of Hila Bezaleli (“4 suspects
released after soldier’s death at Mt. Herzl rehearsal,” April 20) and its
poignant timing no doubt inspires anger; anger at the waste and anger at the
lackadaisical corner-cutting, “it’ll be OK” kind of disrespect for rules and
order that leads to so much contempt in our society on the roads, in building
and almost every walk of life.

The malaise is deeply rooted and we are
newly reminded of it after every tragedy, whether it is a bridge, a ceiling, a
scaffold or our hope for change that repeatedly collapses. I have no magic
solution to offer, cultural change is an enormously difficult
challenge.

Yet another ugly face of the problem was unfortunately
revealed by the media’s interviews with family members of the unfortunate woman.
Relatives, nearly salivating with fury, were recorded calling for a veritable
witch-hunt in terms and tones which had nothing whatsoever to do with
justice.

“Seek justice,” say the prophets, not
retribution.

Blood-thirsty, hysterical demands for revenge will not bring
her back, do no credit to the tragic victim nor to her mourning family, and have
no place in our society.

ANTHONY LUDER Rosh Pina

Sir, – The Jerusalem
Post reported that the security (lighting) expert was unable to produce his
permit, as well on other underhanded (e.g, bribery) activities. This should be a
red flag. It should be quite obvious that these activities are most likely the
norm, but it took a tragedy to bring them to public eye. One wonders why the
authorities turn a blind eye, and hope that investigative reporting will bring
to light further malfeasance.

BARRY LYNN Efrat

Grave injustice

Sir, –
Joanna Parasczuk states that the States Attorney’s Office admitted that
prosecutors had made “a mistake in striking a too lenient plea bargain” with the
drunk driver who struck Shachar and left her paralyzed for life... and “it’s too
late for an appeal” (“Shachar Greenspan plea bargain ‘far too lenient,’” April
20).

It is too late for Shachar to have a beautiful bat mitzva ( I was
invited to the celebration).

The guilty party is alive and and driving.
If justice should be the most important word in a case like this it is never too
late to correct a mistake like this! Until justice prevails we will see more sad
cases like this one.

Mark Patrick gets six months of “community
service” and an NIS 1,000 fine for drunkenly turning a healthy 12-year-old girl
into a life-long quadrapalegic with his car.

Israeli justice? Don't make
laugh.

ZE’EV KIMCHE Efrat

Sir, – Who is this Mark Patrick whose lawyers
managed to convince Judge Tal Ostfeld-Navy that it was in the public interest
to maintain the plea bargain system in this bizarre and skewed way? Is he a son
of some diplomat? Or from a very wealthy family who was able to “convince” the
police to “strike a bargain”? A young woman’s life is ruined; Patrick goes free
to live his life. Oh, yes – he has to pay an NIS 1,000 fine. Probably his next
drunken binge will cost him less than that. And the fact that he has had his
license revoked for six years is a joke.

These irresponsible drunken
drivers are models for recidivism as anyone who has been following the news for
the past few years knows. What exactly is the gain from this plea bargain? That
our court system was able to avoid a trial? For shame! The notation that the
respondents “wish to express their sorrow for the pain caused to the
petitioners, and give them strength in coping with the injuries caused to
Shachar” is nothing less than obscene.

Who will help them with the
tremendous expenses they face for the rest of their child’s life? Who will
comfort them as they grow older, knowing that their child will constantly need
intensive care, and they will not be there to assure it? The state attorney says
it is not possible to revoke the plea bargain and it is no longer possible to
appeal. Outrageous!

MARCELLA WACHTEL Jerusalem

Shame and blame

Sir, – The
article by Hirsh Goodman (“A shroud of shame,” PostScript, April 20) was
ostensibly a criticism of Lt.- Col. Shalom Eisner, but simultaneously managed to
vilify and denigrate every career army officer in the country. Let’s leave
Eisner out of it for the moment, and address the fact that Goodman managed to
make our combat officers sound like they’re on a permanent Caribbean cruise,
with chauffeurs, helicopter rides, office staff and early retirement.

Oh,
yes, and “by-the-by... serving our country.” On the eve of Remembrance Day, I
call on every Israeli citizen to put the shroud of shame where it really belongs
– firmly on the shoulders of Hirsh Goodman.

SHARON SLATER Nof Ayalon

Sir,
– The Jerusalem Post is fortunate to have Hirsh Goodman, a contributor who is
obviously a clear-headed journalist and a credit to both your newspaper and the
profession he represents.

He not only wrote the right things in
criticizing your own newspaper for publishing op-ed pieces and letters in
defense of Lt.-Col. Shalom Eisner who struck the Danish protester in the face
with his rifle butt, but he made it clear that the striking was wrong and to be
soundly condemned; and for that Goodman is to be recognized and
commended.

But why has Goodman’s column been relegated sometimes now to
the rear inside page? And why do we have to suffer the huge rantings of Caroline
Glick alone and, nowadays, the neighboring ones of Sarah Honig? Their two
columns side-by-side collectively flooding the rear page of your “Frontlines”
are enough to give the normal rational reader a permanent crease of the brain
and curdling of the emotions. Do you wish reasonable people to continue
purchasing your newspaper?

MICHAEL BRUNERT Modi’in

Sir, – In Israel Jews have
the right and duty to protect themselves from all sorts of attacks, both
physical and verbal with all the means available to us.

Lt.-Col. Eisner
not only acted on this principle but may help to discourage other provocateurs
in the future.

MIKE MORRIS Kiryat Ono

Defining ownership

Sir, – The
Jewish communities which have been in litigation regarding ownership of their
properties can take heart from the decision of the Supreme Court regarding Beit
Hanina in Jerusalem (“Arab family evicted in Jerusalem, Jewish activists move
into homes,” April 19).

The land ownership law has said that the Jewish
ownership is indisputable and the final Arab tenant to the building has been
evicted from the apartment.

The media played up the human element of his
eviction in a way that is never really done with eviction of Jews all over
Hebron, Judea and Samaria. The media’s bias is well known, but as the Left has
proclaimed so vehemently the judgments of the Supreme Court are so supreme and
everyone must uphold the Law.

We need better research of Arab owners who
have sold properties to Jews and then negated their agreements. We must try in
every legal way to uphold Jewish ownership of property.

It is important
for a country where all citizens are equal before the law not to make Jews feel
like second-class citizens.

The basis for many legal actions must be
equality. Property rights should be clarified by the Knesset, and if it makes
such laws, the owners of property will be able to make disposal of their assets
as they wish.